Newsletter 14th October 2005
End of Autumn Term 1
Harvest Festival
Over Farm Visits
Drama Week
Seeing your child's teacher
Operation Christmas Child
Start of the school day
School Security
Mrs Kemmett / Mrs Evans
Peanut allergy
Headlice
IMPORTANT: Secondary Selection
Web sites
Child Protection
Earthquake in Pakistan
Vacancy for Midday Supervisory Assistant
Black Showerproof Jackets
Questionnaires
End of Autumn Term 1
A reminder that a week today (Friday 21st October) will be the last day of this term. We look forward to seeing all the children back on Wednesday 2nd November, ready for the countdown to our Christmas activities. Clubs will operate as normal during this first week back. Back to topHarvest Festival
I was so proud of our children yesterday morning. If you were sitting in on our Harvest Festival service, you must have been impressed with the quality of the children's participation. The speaking skills were highly polished and some of the pieces of work written by the individual children astounded us. I am actually attaching Jamie Hardwick's poem (to the original newsletter) as the quality surpasses what a Year 6 should be capable of.A big thank you must go to our volunteers who gave up their time following the Service to bag up the produce. Another big thank you must go to the adults who accompanied the Year 3s on their distribution walk around Innsworth. Our Senior Citizens are always very grateful for their parcels. These parcels were only possible because of the generosity of you, our parents. Back to top
Over Farm Visits
Miss Stocken [on the Tree of Recognition for her organisation] certainly pulled the stops out when she arranged this whole school visit. It was a great success as the focus of the day reinforced the curriculum work about ?Healthy Eating?. One child in Class 1 told me that he turned around and said, "Wow" when he saw a field of vegetables. Many were surprised to see so many pumpkins growing in the fields and being so close up to the growing vegetables has certainly impressed the children. Several children have tried eating vegetables such as beetroot and runner beans as a result of this trip.The work produced since the visit has endorsed the fact that children's learning has a greater impact when it is interesting, relevant to the children and is 'hands on'.
Miss Schofield's comment, "I think it has been one of our best visits" reinforces this view.
Again, thanks must go to our parent helpers who have demonstrated their commitment to our school. Parent helpers make the difference. Back to top
Drama Week
You should all have received notification that Drama week is replacing the normal curriculum during next week. There are some exciting activities in store, which are guaranteed to stimulate the children's literacy skills. For parents new to our school, the Friday fancy dress is always one to look forward to. This year the fancy dress will not be judged as someone is always disappointed and this is not what we want. We want everyone to enjoy participating in the fun of the day. Certificates will be given to those who join in. Plea to parents - your child needs your support and enthusiasm. The costume does not have to be elaborate; just help them to dress up. Mr Ward tells me he needs tights???and feathers!!It will not be possible to keep to the homework schedule, as this is an enrichment week! Therefore no homework will be issued this week.
A few pointers about next week:
All work centres around the theme of 'Journeys'. All the classes will be taken on journeys through drama. As part of the week cross-curricular links will be included, e.g. in Year 3 the topic is 'Journey into Space' so there will be links with Science - looking at our solar system as well as Maths, Music and D.T. Any props you think might be useful (wigs, hats etc) please send in with your child.
Themes:
Year 3 : Journey to the Planets
Year 4 : Journey to another World
Year 5 : Pirates (Class 5)
: Explorers (Class 6)
Year 6 : Journey to the past
(World War II)
On Friday, two assemblies will take place:
9.00 a.m. - Lower School classes presenting sketches
11.20 a.m. - Upper School classes presenting sketches.
Parents are very welcome to come along to their child's assembly
We also have Stephanie Seven (Gloucestershire Literacy Consultant) visiting on Thursday to work with each year group. Back to top
Seeing your child's teacher
I am always delighted to see parents and help put any anxieties to rest. However, teachers do feel that they should be approached first as they have day-to-day responsibility for the pastoral and academic development of your child. As there are no hard and fast rules as to when parents may have worries, concerns or just need advice, the rule of thumb remains with you, the parents. I am, however, always available if you feel it is in the interests of your child.CONSULTATION EVENINGS
All classes [except Class 5]
23rd and 24th November 2005
Class 5 Consultation Evenings:
30th November and 1st December
As soon as we resume school in November, class teachers will be inviting parents in for the first of this academic year's Consultation Evenings. Please put this date in your diary as it is so important that your child's class teacher meets with you to facilitate a two-way discussion about the well-being and progress of your child. I am expecting to see a 100% take up on this evening and will telephone absent parents. If you cannot make one of these evenings, please make alternative arrangements with the class teacher.
Apologies for having to give alternative dates for Class 5 but as they have a very talented performer as their class teacher, it could not be helped. If you wish to see just how talented Miss Schofield is, book your tickets for 'Orpheus in the Underworld' at the Everyman Theatre between Monday 21st November and Saturday 26th November. Apparently, Miss Schofield will be dancing the Cancan! Back to top
Operation Christmas Child
Once again we are promoting Operation Christmas Child, as we believe it allows us all to think of those who are less fortunate than us. Last year we collected forty boxes and would love to have even greater success this year. Boxes will need to be in school by Monday 21st November, with both the necessary payment of £2 inside and the details of those for whom the box has been packed. If you have not received a leaflet about Operation Christmas Child, we do have a few spare ones in the office. I'm sure that in light of recent developments in Pakistan, there will be an even greater need for these parcels from the U.K. Please help us to give a little to those who have so little. Back to topStart of the school day
Thank you for encouraging punctuality at the start of each school day. We have seen an improvement this term and this really pleases us. Only a few names have reoccurred in our register and we have already taken them to task. Back to topSchool Security
Please do not be offended if you arrive at reception [when some of our excellent Year 6 monitors are on duty] and are not given access to the school. Children's security means that our monitors must fetch an adult before allowing anyone into school. Sad that this is how schools have to operate but this is life in 21st Century. Back to topMrs Kemmett / Mrs Evans
Maternity leave beckons for Mrs Kemmett from the end of next week. We wish her well in the run up to the 'big event' and look forward to having her back next June.Mrs Evans has already been in to ensure a smooth handover of Class 8. Not many schools are as fortunate as us in having a standby, who knows 'the ropes', guarantees quality teaching, the children love and who gives so much to the school. In fact, Mrs Evans is just like Mrs Kemmett! Except she's not pregnant! We extend a warm welcome to Mrs Evans. Back to top
Peanut allergy
We do have one child who could have a severe allergic reaction if they come into contact with peanuts. If your child does bring peanut butter sandwiches into school, please could you let the class teacher know so that we can take precautionary measures. Back to topHeadlice
Just a reminder that headlice are still around and proactive measures need to be continually employed. Please could I ask you all to maintain the 'Sunday evening check' as this is the only way of keeping headlice to a minimum. Back to topIMPORTANT: Secondary Selection
If you are a Year 6 parent you must have your preference form into the LEA by Friday 21st October at the very latest. Any applications received after this date can only be considered after March 1st 2006.The latest date for applications for all grammar schools is today. The High School for Girls and Sir Thomas Rich's must have the form sent back to Shire Hall, all other grammar schools to the individual schools. Failure to return the registration forms may result in your child being unable to take the grammar school test. Back to top
Web sites
As mentioned at the Year 6 SATs evening, the website for revision is: www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revisewise Back to topChild Protection
We have been asked to publicise the new website for Child Protection. Parents might like to visit it and see what it contains:www.glosacpc.org.uk Back to top
Earthquake in Pakistan
Today's assembly centred on the disaster which has happened in Pakistan. With winter beginning to set in, these people, many in remote areas, will be entirely dependent on contributions from people who live in other parts of the world. If you would like to make a contribution, we will have a contribution box available in school for next week. If you wish to send in a donation in an envelope, please do so. Otherwise children may wish to drop their donation into the container. If you wish to make a contribution by cheque, please make it payable to, 'British Red Cross Asian Earthquake Appeal'. Many thanks. Back to topVacancy for Midday Supervisory Assistant
We do have a vacancy for a midday supervisory assistant. The time is from 12.00 - 1.00 p.m.If you would like further details about this vacancy, please contact Mrs Hamblett. Back to top